India is a biodiversity hotspot. Only a few international locations on the planet can rival India’s mega biodiversity. We’re additionally ethno-culturally one of many richest international locations on the planet. Deep reverence to nature and wildlife is a standard thread throughout totally different communities in India. Wildlife conservation is ingrained in our ethos and has at all times been an integral a part of Indian custom. Our deep-rooted reference to nature is the rationale why India is harbouring the biggest inhabitants of two charismatic species – tigers and Asian elephants.
On World Elephant Day, a mirrored image of the significance India attaches to elephants is present in the truth that we treasure it as our Nationwide Heritage Animal. It’s a matter of delight for us to have greater than 60% of the full wild inhabitants of Asian elephants in India. Extra importantly, the elephant inhabitants within the nation continues to be secure. Below the Narendra Modi-led authorities, the variety of elephant reserves has additionally gone as much as 33 and the realm beneath Mission Elephant has risen from 76,508 sqkm to 80,777 sqkm, significantly over the past decade. India locations elephants in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Safety) Act, 1972, in accordance the best diploma of authorized safety to each populations within the wild and elephants beneath human care.
Past their non secular and cultural impression, it’s price noting that the evolution of elephants is similar to that of people. Each people and elephants developed across the similar time in historic Africa earlier than colonising a lot of the world. It’s typically stated that prehistoric people typically adopted the path left by prehistoric elephants to succeed in new locations. Thus, elephants and other people have a longstanding relationship. This bond has acquired a deeper essence and understanding in India.
The social behaviour of elephants has additionally developed remarkably much like that of people. The elephant is a social animal. They stay in herds, besides lone tuskers. The elephant’s society is matriarchal and the herds are largely led by the oldest feminine within the group. They share robust bonds, particularly in the case of defending younger calves. The mom elephant, together with different feminine elephants, has been seen encircling the younger ones to protect in opposition to looming threats or within the presence of huge carnivores.
Elephants stay lengthy and possess developed and powerful olfactory and acoustic senses. They’re stated to have the ‘elephantine’ reminiscence as nicely. Broadly recognized for expressing their grief or trumpeting happiness in celebrations, elephants are emotional too. It’s heart-warming to see them bathing in water our bodies, having fun with mud showers and wallowing in swamps. Watching the playful younger ones and erratic lone tuskers can be a delight.
It is very important recognise the impression of elephants within the lives of innumerable wildlife within the forests and varied different ecosystems resembling grasslands and wetlands. Whereas shifting from place to put seeking meals and water, elephants invigorate the life cycles of hundreds of timber, shrubs, herbs, bugs, and related mega herbivores – the rationale why they’re known as engineers of ecosystems. Elephants have far bigger implications for our ecosystems and are the true keystone species answerable for conserving our biodiversity.
Luckily, India has greater than 25,000 elephants in 4 main areas – South, North-Western, Central-Japanese and North-Japanese – of their inhabitation. The southern area has the biggest inhabitants – round 12,000 – adopted by the northeast area that has over 10,000 elephants.
A number of essential elephant habitats within the nation have been notified as elephant reserves. A complete of 33 elephant reserves have been notified within the nation over an space of 80,777 sq. km unfold throughout 14 states. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Setting, Forest and Local weather Change, in coordination with the state forest departments, has floor validated 150 elephant corridors throughout 15 elephant-range states within the nation and has knowledgeable the state governments and Union Territory administrations to take mandatory steps to guard and preserve the elephant corridors. The ministry has taken steps to strengthen the administration of elephant reserves by piloting a administration effectiveness analysis in 4 reserves and establishing a framework for conservation, which is able to drive scientific {and professional} administration of India’s elephant reserves.
Since elephants and other people share house, their harmonious coexistence is essential for long-term survival of the species. Reconciling human welfare together with the conservation wants of elephants assumes precedence. The Modi authorities has positioned emphasis on janbhagidari (public participation) in each facet of elephant conservation. The federal government believes lively participation of native communities is vital to steering elephant conservation to new heights. All of us right here have a collective duty in the direction of making certain elephant welfare.
It’s typically stated, rightly so, that one can not think about India with out elephants. With the collective efforts of all stakeholders, the Modi authorities is striving in the direction of securing a viable inhabitants of elephants and different wildlife species for future generations.
(Bhupender Yadav is the Union Minister of Setting, Forest and Local weather Change)
Disclaimer: These are the non-public opinions of the creator
